Racist Meme Cop Made $80K Last Year, Still No Update On Investigation

One year and five months after a Geneva Police officer was found to have posted racist images on social media, the Geneva Police Department, City of Geneva, and the Geneva Community Compact Committee still have not issued any public updates on the internal investigation launched in September 2017. The officer is still listed on the department roster, and he collected his full paycheck in 2018.

An internal investigation was launched, and statements from city officials and community leaders strongly condemned the officer’s actions while pushing for a swift and fair resolution.

City officials stated that Yancey was on medical leave at the time the racist posts went viral, and assured residents that the officer would not be interacting with the public. One city councilor even called for Yancey’s immediate dismissal.

“Not only should this officer be immediately relieved of his duties, his firearm should be revoked as well…

I will be working closely with city officials and staff for real accountability in this matter.”

“We understand that the Geneva Police Department has launched an investigation into these posts. It is our desire that this investigation be thorough and swift, and that the conclusions and associated ramifications be in clear and direct alignment with our core values of inclusion and celebration of our rich racial and cultural diversity.”

The final public statements on the matter by anyone from the city, police department, or Community Compact Committee were on September 21 2017.

“We don’t want this to drag out. This isn’t something I want to take weeks you know?” said Horn in an earlier interview with WXXI. “This is something we want an answer on very quickly and then we’ll move to the appropriate discipline.”

Facebook image posted by Todd Yancey, July 1 2015, one day after national media was awash with the news that the Ku Klux Klan had been approved to hold a rally at the statehouse in Columbia, SC to protest the removal of the Confederate flag.

When asked about accountability, Gramling admitted the national narrative usually shows officers getting off but he said he wants to do what he can to keep this from happening in Geneva.

“My message to those who are maybe a bit cynical because of past practices be encouraged. I think again we have been working, sometimes behind the scenes it doesn’t always seem to be that there’s anything progressing but I am here to tell the community we have been working with the Geneva Police Department and we have been working with the city on these things.”

Allowing three members of their committee to speak out at a City Council meeting in full-throated support for former Chief Trickler, who was under fire after being caught failing to follow the residency requirement for his job for seven years after accepting $2,500 in taxpayer money for moving expenses.

Restricting attendance at future Compact-sponsored public events in order to protect the police in attendance from being asked about accountability.

Supporting Compact member and Chief of Police Mike Passalacqua when he refuses to acknowledge the need for a civilian review board while accusing those who demand accountability of being “adversarial.”

Blaming residents for the misconduct of the police department, including declarations that “we all have to change” and refusing to acknowledge the existence of police abuse against Geneva residents.

Refusing to stand up for community members who asked why the GPD conducted a paramilitary SWAT “exercise” in a vacant north side home at the same time dozens of children living in Wards 5 and 6 were walking home from school.

The City Manager, members of City Council and the Compact Committee have repeatedly warned residents that the police department will end their participation in the Compact’s efforts if residents continue to insist on asking for police accountability.

In a short two years since the Compact was revitalized, it has become clear that the Compact does not serve the public. Rather, it is being used, repeatedly, as a shield for the police, to protect them from being held accountable for their actions or asked difficult questions.

City government and community leaders are working together to craft a narrative of “positive change” around the Compact in order to protect the police department from answering to the people, while leveling accusations of being “adversarial” at community members who want change and accountability.

The people cannot count on the Compact Committee, the Compact signatories, the City Manager’s office, or City Council to address police corruption and injustice in our city.

About genevabeliever

One Comment on “Racist Meme Cop Made $80K Last Year, Still No Update On Investigation”

It saddens me that this was not and is not designated as an issue demanding urgency. As a community this lack of action should not be tolerated and we should demand action. There is NO intent to hold this officer accountable for his action, some Geneva officials and some members of the Compact are doing what they do best when the topic of police accountability arises NOTHING !!! So the message is clear THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT ONLY ACCEPTABLE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!